News

Make science entertaining and win a share of $15 000!

By Katynna Gill

4 February 2009

Become a young Sleek Geek by entering the University of Sydney's Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer, who entertain audiences around Australia with their Sleek Geeks show, invite young Australians to make a short film about any scientific topic.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer invite students to enter the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Eureka Prize.

The short film should painlessly increase the audience's science knowledge or, as the Sleek Geeks like to say: "Learn something without even noticing."

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney, and Adam Spencer, Breakfast presenter for 702 ABC Radio Sydney, are encouraging primary, secondary and tertiary students to communicate a scientific idea in a way that is accessible and entertaining to the public.

"We're looking for the next generation of Sleek Geeks. Those with a passion for science and for communicating ideas," says Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. "Each film needs to be one to three minutes long, and tell a scientific story with real science. Get out your digital camera and have some fun!"

There are three categories with great cash prizes up for grabs:

the University Student Prize is open to all Australian university students and has a first prize of $3000 and a second prize of $2000

the Secondary School Prize is open to all Australian high school students and has a first prize of $4000 plus a $500 book voucher from Abbey's Bookshop, a second prize of $3000 and a third prize of $2000

the Primary School Prize is open to all Australian primary school students and has a first prize of $1000 plus a $500 book voucher from Abbey's Bookshop.

"Good quality production isn't a major consideration in judging - it's how the 'story' is told that counts," says Dr Karl.

Previous winning films have included songs, dances, animations, dramas, comedies and documentary presentations. So get creative!

The University of Sydney's Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes which reward excellence in the fields of research and innovation, science leadership, science communication and journalism, and school science.